Kampala, Uganda: Advocacy groups for people with disabilities in Uganda, led by the National Union of Disabled Persons Uganda (NUDIPU), have contested the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report from the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, raising concerns over the reported disability prevalence figure of 5.7%.
The groups argue that the figure grossly underrepresents persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Uganda, citing previous data sources such as the 2017 Uganda Functional Difficulties Survey, which estimated the prevalence at 16.5%, and the 2014 census, which recorded 12.4%. According to their analysis, the accurate current figure stands closer to 13.6%.
The concerns were made public during a press conference held at the Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB) head office on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The event also reaffirmed their support for the domestication of the Marrakesh Treaty and the push for equitable access to information for persons with visual impairments.
“The Government of Uganda has demonstrated commendable efforts in promoting and protecting the human rights of marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities,” said Mr. Nyombi Peter, General Secretary of UNAB.
Nyombi lauded Uganda’s progressive legal and policy framework, particularly in the education sector, but stressed that much remains to be done to ensure inclusion in learning materials.
“A review of educational learning materials by UNAB and its partners revealed that most materials remain inaccessible and unresponsive to the needs of learners with visual impairments,” he said.
UNAB Chairman Mr. Anguyo Richard applauded Uganda’s ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty in 2018, which aims to end the “book famine” by enabling persons who are blind, visually impaired, or print-disabled to access published works in accessible formats such as braille, large print, and audio.
“It is praiseworthy that Uganda signed and ratified the Marrakesh Treaty. However, full domestication is critical for real impact,” he stated.
As of April 2025, progress toward domestication has been visible. A draft amendment to the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act, Cap 222, meant to align national law with the Marrakesh Treaty, was reviewed by Cabinet and gazetted on April 4, 2025.
Mr. Tumwebaze Denis, Executive Director of UNAB, emphasized the urgency of passing the amendment into law. “The progress is significant so far, but it is not over until Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee and the Executive do the final signing. Without this, the visually impaired will continue lagging behind in research, referencing, and academic performance,” he said.
The disability community now calls for urgent government attention to both the census data discrepancies and the finalization of legislative reforms to ensure full inclusion and access for all.
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